Fourteen Arabic alphabets have been used, in varied combinations, in 14 ‘Solemn Verses' (Ayaat-e-Muqatta'at - آیاتِ مقطعات) in the form of initials of 29 Chapters (سورة) of holy Quran. 'Taa Haa' ( طه) is one of them.

Since Quran is 'Mubeen' (الْمُبِينِ); its description is clear and manifest. The meanings of all the verses of Quran, including 'Solemn Verses' (آیاتِ مقطعات) are surely known to its principle addressee, ie., Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). It is also likely that Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) has informed the meanings of these Verses to some of his Sahabah and Awliya Allah.

We believe in whatever is meant by the 'Solemn Verses' (آیاتِ مقطعات) by Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) and His Apostle Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).

Since we have been commanded to read the Quran carefully and try to understand the significance of every verse of the Quran, we do ponder over these verses. And when we think, by focusing our attention towards Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) and His Apostle Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) for guidance, it comes to our mind that the 'Solemn Verses' (آیاتِ مقطعات) are actually the 'Solemn Titles of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) given by Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) throughout the Quran. Our understanding is based on the fact that Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) has addressed Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) in the Quran by specific names, like Muzzammil (مزمل - O' beloved who covers self in a coverlet), Muddassir (مدثر - O' beloved, who covers self in a bed sheet). With this understanding, it is most likely that Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) other names / titles have been mentioned in Quran by denoting certain initials/alphabets.

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 002

مَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآَنَ لِتَشْقَى[ We have not sent down this Qur’an upon you (O' Prophet ﷺ) to get distressed (in view of disbelievers refusal to accept the faith.)]

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 003

إِلَّا تَذْكِرَةً لِمَنْ يَخْشَى[ But as a reminder to those in awe (of Allah).]

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 004

تَنْزِيلًا مِمَّنْ خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ وَالسَّمَوَاتِ الْعُلَى[ A revelation from Him who created the earth and the high ascending skies,]

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 005

الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَى[ The Most Gracious established the authority on the Throne. ]

Allah (اللہ) is the comprehensive name encompassing all His attributes. To be Compassionate towards His servants is one of His attributes.

It is in Quran - [ The day We shall gather the righteous in front of the Most Compassionate, like the guests gathered in front of the King to received honors.] (Maryam - 85)

The above verse clarifies that His attribute of Rahmaniyat (رحمانيت) is ruling the world. What the believers will see in front of them on the Day of Resurrection is 'Tajalli-e-Rahman, (تجلئ رحمان) who is the King of this Cosmos. With this understanding, it is much easier to understand all related verses in this context.

It is in Quran -إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ [ Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. ] (Al-A'raaf - 54)

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 006

لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحْتَ الثَّرَى[ To Him only belongs all whatever is in the heavens and all whatever is in the earth, and all whatever is between them, and all whatever is beneath the soil. ]

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 007

وَإِنْ تَجْهَرْ بِالْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى[ Whether you speak openly (or not), He certainly knows what is the secret and what is even more hidden.]

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 008

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ لَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى[ Allah, there is no god except Him. To Him belong the Best Names.]

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 009

وَهَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَى[ Has the story of Musa (عليه السلام) reached you?]

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 010

إِذْ رَأَى نَارًا فَقَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ امْكُثُوا إِنِّي آَنَسْتُ نَارًا لَعَلِّي آَتِيكُمْ مِنْهَا بِقَبَسٍ أَوْ أَجِدُ عَلَى النَّارِ هُدًى [ When he (Musa عليه السلام) saw a fire, he said to his family, 'You stay (behind); I see a fire; Perhaps I can bring you something burning from it, or find some guidance at the fire.' ]

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 011

فَلَمَّا أَتَاهَا نُودِيَ يَا مُوسَى[ When he (Musa عليه السلام) came near it, he was called by name : 'O Musa' (عليه السلام)! ]

Musa (عليه السلام) belonged to the community of Israilis who were enslaved by Pharaoh of Egypt and were kept in appalling conditions.

Ibn Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) narrated that once Pharaoh saw in his vision a fire came from Jerusalem and burned the houses of the Egyptians but did not do harm to the children of Israel. He consulted his priests for its interpretation who explained that a boy will be born among the children of Israel and the Egyptians will perish at his hands.'

Pharaoh got panicked on this interpretation and ordered slaughter of all male children of Israelis, even the new born were hunted and killed. Killing of new born male children of Israelis was carried out for some years. Then his aides warned him that this kind of slaughter was not in his economic interest as slaves will vanish and there will be no one to work in their fields. In view of this, Pharaoh order to kill Israelis' new born male child one year and let them live the following year. Musa's (عليه السلام) mother was pregnant with Haroon (عليه السلام) in a year that boys were to be spared; thus she gave birth to the child publicly and safely. During a year in which boys were to be slain, she gave birth to Musa (عليه السلام). She was terrified that he would be slain.

The following events in this context have been described in Quran in Surah al-Qasas - 7-30).

[And We inspired the mother of Musa (عليه السلام) , (saying) : 'Suckle him (Musa عليه السلام), but when you fear for for his life, then cast him into the river (in a wooden box) and fear not, nor grieve. Verily! We shall bring him back to you, and shall make him one of (Our) Apostles.' (She did as per the command) and the family of Pharaoh picked him up (from of the river) so that he would become to them an enemy and a (cause of) grief. Indeed, Pharaoh and Haman (his assistant) and their soldiers were deliberate sinners. (When the child was picked up and shown to Pheraoh's wife) She said (to Pharaoh that the child will be) 'a comfort of the eye for me and for you. Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.' And they perceived not.

(When infant Musa عليه السلام was placed into the river in a wooden box) the heart of Musa's (عليه السلام) mother became empty (of everything with grief). She was about to disclose (the facts to people) had We (Allah) not bound fast her heart that she would be of the believers. Then she said to (her eldest daughter) the sister of Musa عليه السلام), (to) Follow the wooden box (from the bank of the river); so she watched him from a distance while they perceived not.

(When Musa was picked up by Pharaoh's people and was taken into Palace), We (Allah) had prevented from him (from all) wet nurses, so (Musa عليه السلام big sister who followed the wooden box) told Pharaoh's people, 'Shall I direct you to a household that will be responsible for him, for you, while they are sincere for his upbringing.

So We (Allah) restored him to his mother that she might be content and not grieve and that she would know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of the people do not know.

And when Musa (عليه السلام) attained his full strength and was mature, We bestowed upon him judgement and knowledge. And thus do We reward the doers of good.

(On one day) he entered the city at a time of inattention by its people and found therein two men fighting : one was from his people (Israelis) and the other from among his enemy (Egyptians). And the one from his people (Israelis) called for help to him against the one from his enemy. So Musa (عليه السلام) (went to help him and) struck a blow to Egyptian and he was killed (unintentionally). (Moses عليه السلام) said (to himself), 'This is from the work of Satan. Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy.' He said, 'My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me,' and He (Allah) forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Musa (عليه السلام) said, 'My Lord, for the favor You bestowed upon me, I will never be an assistant to the criminals.' And he became fearful anticipating (exposure) in the city. (The next day, it so happened that) the one who sought his help the previous day cried out to him (once again as he was fighting with another Egyptian that day). Musa (عليه السلام) said to him, 'Indeed, you are a manifest wrongdoer. And when he wanted to strike the one who was an enemy to both of them, he said, 'O Musa (عليه السلام), do you intend to kill me as you killed that man yesterday? You only want to be a tyrant in the land and do not want to be of the amending ones.' (Meanwhile) a man came from the farthest end of the city, running. He said, 'O Musa (عليه السلام), indeed the eminent ones (security personnel) are conferring over you (intending) to kill you, so leave (the city); indeed, I am to you of the sincere advisors.'

So Musa (عليه السلام) left the city ( into the desert across Sinai Peninsula), fearful and anticipating (persecution). He said, 'My Lord, save me from the wrongdoing people.' And when he directed himself toward Madyan (across Sinai Peninsula), he said, 'Perhaps my Lord will guide me to the sound way.' And when he came to a well of Madian, he found there a crowd of people watering (their flocks), and he found aside from them two women driving back (their flocks). He said, 'What is your difficulty?' They said, 'We do not water until the shepherds dispatch (their flocks); and our father (Shuaib عليه السلام) is an old man.' So he watered (their flocks) for them; then he went back to the shade and said, 'My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need.'

(After sometime) one of the two women came to him walking with shyness. She said, 'Indeed, my father invites you so that he may reward you for having watered (our sheep) for us.' So when he came to him (the father of the girls) and related to him his story, he said, 'Fear not. You have escaped from the wrongdoing people.' One of the women said, 'O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy.'

(When the father saw the sincerity of Musa عليه السلام) the said, 'Indeed, I wish to wed you one of my two daughters, on (the condition) that you serve me for eight years; but if you complete ten, it will be (a favor) from you. And I do not wish to put you in difficulty. You will find me, if Allah wills, from among the righteous.' (Musa عليه السلام) said, 'That is (an agreement) between me and you. Whichever of the two terms I complete, there is no injustice to me, and Allah, over what we say, is Witness.'

When Musa (عليه السلام) had completed the term and was traveling with his family (to back to Egypt after more than a decade), he perceived from the direction of the mount (Tur) a fire. He said to his family, 'Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I will bring you from there (some) information or burning wood from the fire that you may warm yourselves.' But when he came to it (the fire), he was called from the right side of the valley in a blessed spot from the tree, 'O Musa (عليه السلام), indeed I am Allah, Lord of the worlds. ] ( Al-Qasas - 7-30)

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 013

وَأَنَا اخْتَرْتُكَ فَاسْتَمِعْ لِمَا يُوحَى[ I have chosen you (as an Apostle), so listen to what is being revealed (to you). ]

إِنَّ السَّاعَةَ آَتِيَةٌ أَكَادُ أُخْفِيهَا لِتُجْزَى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا تَسْعَى[ The Hour is sure to come. My intention is to keep it hidden so that everyone may be rewarded according to their efforts.]

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 016

فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنْهَا مَنْ لَا يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ فَتَرْدَى[ 'Therefore never let one, who does not accept faith in it, and follows his own desires, prevent you from accepting this, or you will be misled.' ]

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 017

وَمَا تِلْكَ بِيَمِينِكَ يَا مُوسَى[ And what is that in your right hand O' Musa (عليه السلام)?]

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 018

قَالَ هِيَ عَصَايَ أَتَوَكَّأُ عَلَيْهَا وَأَهُشُّ بِهَا عَلَى غَنَمِي وَلِيَ فِيهَا مَآَرِبُ أُخْرَى[ Musa (عليه السلام) said: This is my staff. I recline on it and I beat the leaves with it to make them fall upon my sheep, and I have other uses for it.]

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 019

قَالَ أَلْقِهَا يَا مُوسَى[ He said throw it down O' Musa (عليه السلام).]

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 020

فَأَلْقَاهَا فَإِذَا هِيَ حَيَّةٌ تَسْعَى[ So he threw it down, and behold, it turned into a snake, moving swiftly.]

Juz 16, Taa Haa, Verse 021

قَالَ خُذْهَا وَلَا تَخَفْ سَنُعِيدُهَا سِيرَتَهَا الْأُولَى[ He said : Take hold of it and fear not; We will restore it to its former state.]